is: i.e. may be. Illustrations: Nabal (1 Samuel 25:36 , 1 Samuel 25:37 ); Solomon (Ecclesiastes 2:2 ); Belshazzar (Daniel 5:1-6 , Daniel 5:30 ); Israelites (Amos 6:3-7 ); Babylon (Revelation 18:7 , Revelation 18:8 ). read more
"The house of the wicked shall be overthrown; But the tent of the righteous shall flourish."This is the perpetual theme of Proverbs. The good prosper; the wicked fail and suffer. The Christian should understand all such promises in the higher light of the New Testament. It is written that. "We must through many tribulations enter into the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22). It is in the eternal sense alone, that such promises as this, must be understood; although in a lesser and secondary sense, they... read more
"There is a way which seemeth right unto a man; But the end thereof are the ways of death."Literally and eternally true, this proverb stands as one of the Lighthouses of Proverbs. It was true of Absalom and Ahithophel; and it is true of many a worldly and irreligious man today. read more
"Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; And the end of mirth is heaviness.""Like many other Proverbs in our English version, this one cannot be taken as universally true. The first clause is often rendered, and perhaps should be, "Even in laughter the heart may sorrowful."[13] "There are two kinds of laughter and mirth. There is an innocent and proper mirth; and there is an guilty and sinful mirth."[14] There is also sometimes a heavy and disconsolate heart that disguises its sorrow by a show... read more
Proverbs 14:12. There is a way which seemeth right unto a man— This is an admonition of the weakness of men's judgments, and of all human counsels, which mistake much, and lead men frequently into ruin: "Shadows too often cheat us of the reality," says one of the ancient Greeks; against which there is no remedy but the word of God, and invoking his direction. read more
11. (Compare :-). The contrast of the whole is enhanced by that of house and tabernacle, a permanent and a temporary dwelling. read more
12. end thereof—or, "reward," what results (compare Proverbs 5:4). ways of death—leading to it. read more
13. The preceding sentiment illustrated by the disappointments of a wicked or untimely joy. read more
8. Further advice for wise living chs. 14-15These proverbs are more difficult to group together under a general heading because there are fewer common ideas that tie them together. read more
Get Bible verse every day in your inbox
Read on Mobile
E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Proverbs 14:12
seemeth right = is pleasing. It only "seems" right, Illustrations: Jeroboam (1 Kings 12:27-33 ; 1 Kings 14:7-11 . Compare Proverbs 3:7 ); Josiah (2 Chronicles 35:20-24 ); Jews (Acts 13:50 ; John 16:2 . Compare Paul, Philippians 1:3 , Philippians 1:4-7 , and 1 Timothy 1:13 ). are = is. read more